Mounting base for marine antennas



Feb. 14, 1967 F. CANDELA 3,304,037

MOUNTING BASE FOR MARINE ANTENNAS Filed May 21, 1965 1 ENTOR. FRANK CANDELA AJM ATTORNEY- United States Patent 3,304,037 MOUNTING BASE FOR MARINE ANTENNAS Frank Candela, Hialeah, Fla. (3635 S. Dixie Highway, Miami, Fla. 33133) Filed May 21, 1965, Ser. No. 457,590 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-44) This invention relates generally to marine radio antennas and is directed particularly to an improved mounting base for marine whip antennas.

Cruisers, sport fisherman and other pleasure craft are often equipped with ship-to-shore or marine radio-telephone systems as an aid to navigation and for emergency purposes. Antennas for such systems, particularly on smaller craft, usually take the form of vertically mounted Whip antennas which, because of the moderately long wave radio frequency band allotted for such communication, are necessarily quite long, ten or more feet in length for efficient communication. In order for such a vertically mounted whip antenna to be lowered for passage of the craft under a low bridge, for example, mounting bases heretofore used were provided with an adjustable joint for rotating the antenna in a vertical plane and locking it in any desired position of elevation in a particular vertical or near vertical plane depending upon the position in which the mounting base was afiixed on the craft. Because of such limited adjustability, it was necessary to secure the mounting base against a horizontal surface portion of the craft, or, if that was impractical, to provide wedge-shaped shims under the mounting base to bring it to substantially horizontal or level position when secured against an inclined portion of the craft.

The present invention has for its principal object the provision of an improved whip antenna mounting base having a pair of serially arranged joints adjustable in mutually perpendicular planes to permit its mounting against surface portions of a marine craft at any inclination with the horizontal without the need of shimming.

It is another object to provide a Whip antenna mounting base of the above nature wherein the securing means for each of the adjustable joints comprises interfitting, radiallytoothed clutch inserts of a tough synthetic plastic material for improved locking action and smoother operation.

Yet another object is to provide an antenna mounting base of the above nature which can be made inexpensively of cast metal and machined metal and plastic parts, and which will be fool-proof in operation, durable in use and attractive in appearance.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 illustrates, in side elevation and partly in vertical cross-section, an antenna mounting base embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows, on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows, on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a partial view illustrating the inside of the knuckle portion of the upper joint member;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of one of the clutch inserts, shown separately; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the pedestal member, shown separately, facing the inside of the upstanding knuckle portion thereof.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 designate a whip antenna mounting base embodying ice the invention, the same being comprised, generally, of a pedestal member 10, an intermediate joint link member 11, an upper joint member 12, a lock lever 13 and an electrically-insulating support post 14. The pedestal member 10, the intermediate joint link member 11, the upper joint member 12 and the lock lever 13 are all preferably made of a cast metal such as brass suitably plated as with chromium.

The pedestal member 10 has a flat rectangular base portion 15 integrally formed with an upstanding knuckle portion 16 having a semi-circularly rounded upper end 17 and providing a vertical face 18 (see FIG. 7). The vertical face 18 is provided with a stepped recess 19 defined by a lower semi-circular end wall 20 concentric with the rounded upper end of the knuckle portion 16, a first pair of opposed vertical side walls 21 and 22 tangent with the ends of said semi-circular end wall and extending through the upper end of said knuckle portion, and a second pair of opposed vertical side walls 23 and 24 parallel with and equidistantly spaced from the inside of the respective first pair of side walls 21, 22. The second pair of side walls 23 and 24 extend approximately twice as deep into the vertical face 18 of the knuckle portion 16 to define vertically extending steps or shoulders 25, 26 symmetrically disposed at each side of a central bore 27 formed in said knuckle portion.

Removably seated within the stepped recess of the upstanding knuckle portion 16 of the pedestal member 10 is a clutch insert 28 (separately illustrated in FIG. 6), said clutch insert having a back surface portion 29 stepped at opposite side portions as indicated at 30 and 31 in FIG. 6, and rounded at its upper and lower ends as indicated at 32 and 33, to complement the shape of the stepped recess 19 in said knuckle portion so as to fit therein in keyed relation preventing mutual rotary motion. The clutch insert 28 is formed with a central bore 34 coaxial with the central bore 27 of the knuckle portion 16 when seated in the recess 19 thereof, and a forwardlyprojecting annular portion 35 the outer surface of which is provided with radially-extending teeth 36.

The intermediate joint link member 11 is integrally formed with a substantially flat lower knuckle portion 37 presenting a circular face 38 and a substantially flat upper knuckle portion 39 presenting a circular face 40, interjoined by a web portion 41 in substantially right-angular mutual disposition so that the circular faces 38 and 40 lie in mutually perpendicular planes the line of intersection of which passes substantially through their centers of curvature. The circular faces 38 and 40 are provided with stepped recesses 42 and 43, respectively, of the same size and shape as the recess 19 in the upstanding knuckle portion 16 of the pedestal 10, described above, and each recess has seated therein a clutch insert 28. The lower and upper knuckle portions 37 and 39 of the intermediate joint link member 11 are provided with central bores 44 and 45, respectively, for the reception of interconnecting bolts as hereinbelow described. The upper bore 45 is internally threaded.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the lower knuckle portion 37 of the intermediate joint link member 11 is adjustably secured against the upstanding knuckle portion 16 of the pedestal member 10 by a bolt 46 extending through the bores therein and in the clutch inserts 28 and fixed in place by a nut 48. A washer 47 is fitted under the head of the bolt 46. The intermeshing teeth of the clutch inserts 28 prevent movement of the joint link member 11 with respect to the pedestal member 10, whereby rotary adjustment can be effected only by loosening the nut 48 sufficiently to permit disengagement of the clutch insert teeth sets.

The upper joint member 12 is integrally formed at one end with an externally-threaded stud portion 49 and at the other end with a substantially flat, circular knuckle portion 50 having an inner circular face 51 lying in a plane including the longitudinal axis of said stud portion, said axis preferably extending through the center of said circular face 51. The circular face 51 is provided with a stepped recess 52 of the same size and shape as the stepped recess 19 described above, seated within which is a clutch insert 28. The circular knuckle portion 50 is provided with a central bore 53 and formed in its outer surface with a pair of opposed, arcuately-extending cam surfaces 54, 55, concentrically arranged with respect to the central bore 53 and of gradually increasing height from one end to the other proceeding in the anticlockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2. The upper joint member 12 is held in assembled relation with respect to the intermediate joint link member 11 by a bolt 56, seated under the head of which is a washer 57, extending through an opening 58 at one. end of the lock lever 13, and through the knuckle portion 50 and the clutch inserts seated therein, the outer end of said bolt being threaded in the threaded bore 45 in the upper knuckle portion 39 of the intermediate joint link member 11. A lock nut 60 is provided for securing the bolt 56 in proper position for action of the lock lever 13. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lock lever 13 has flat inner surface portions 61, 62 which bear with increasing pressure against the cam surfaces 54, 55 as the lever is turned anti-clockwisely (as seen in FIG; 2), whereby teeth ofthe associated clutch inserts are brought into secure intermeshing engagement for fixing the upper joint member 12 in any rotatively adjusted position with respect to the intermediate joint link member. 11.

The electrically-insulating support post 14 is preferably formed of a tough, synthetic plastic material having good dielectric qualities, such as Nylon, and is generally cylindrical in shape. One end of the support post 14 is provided with an internally-threaded axial recess 59 within which the threaded stud portion 49 of the upper joint member 12 is received for securing the parts, in interassembled relation. The other end of the support post 14 is formed with a first axially-extending cylindrical opening 63 which extends into a coaxial second cylindrical opening 64 of decreased diameter defining an internal annular seat 65 with said first opening. Seated within the second cylindrical opening 64 is a cylindrical metal bushing 66 having an internally-threaded bore 67 at the upper end. The support post 14 is transversely drilled, as indicated at 68, to receive an externally-threaded terminal stud 69 received in threaded side openings 70, 71 near the lower end of the bushing 66. The outer end of the drilled opening 68 is counter-sunk, as indicated at 72, to receive seated therein a lock nut 73 securing the terminal stud 69 in place. A second nut 74 is provided at the outer end of the terminal stud 69 for electrically connecting an antenna feed line (not illustrated). As illustrated in FIG. 1, the base portion B of a whip antenna W seats within the cylindrical opening or socket 63 with the axial stud S thereof threaded in the threaded bore 67 of the metal bushing 66, whereby the whip antenna is held securely in place and whereby electrical connection is made between the whip antenna and the terminal stud 69.

An important advantage of this'invention resides in the fact that the mutually perpendicular knuckle joints permit universal positioning or pivoting of a whip antenna with respect to the mounting pedestal, whereby the mounting base can be afiixed to any convenient part of the superstructure of a marine craft, whether horizontal, vertical or on an incline, while at the same time providing for vertical positioning of the supported whip antenna and permitting its lowering as may be required by simple actuation of the lock lever.

Another salient feature of the invention resides in the particular construction of the support post for the antenna wherein the Whip base end is secured in close-fitting relation within a socket for increased strength at the juncture.

While I have illustrated and described herein only one form in which my invention may conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this form is given by way of example only and not in a limiting sense. My invention, in brief, comprises all the modifications and embodiments coming Within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mounting base for marine whip antennas comprising, in combination, a pedestal member adapted to be fixed to a supporting structure, an intermediate joint link member, means adjustably interconnecting one end of said intermediate joint link member with said pedestal member for swinging motion with respect thereto in a first plane, an upper joint member, means adjustably interconnecting one end of said upper joint member with the other end of said intermediate joint member tor swinging motion with respect thereto in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane, and an electrically-non-conduc'tive sup port post connected to the other end of said upper joint member, said support post having a socket for receiving seated therein the cylindrical base of la Whip antenna and including means for making the electrical connection to the base of a whip antenna secured in said socket, said socket comprising a first cylindrical opening in said support post, and said means for making electrical connection comprising a cylindrical metal bushing secured in a second cylindrical opening in said support post extending from the bottom of said first cylindrical opening and coaxial therewith, said second opening being of lesser diameter than first opening to define an annular seat therewith, the outer end of said bushing having an internallythreaded axial bore for receiving the threaded stud of a 'whip antenna received in said socket, and an electricallyconductive terminal stud member secured in said support post and extending transversely into said bushing for making electrical contact therewith and for securing said bushing in place. I

2. A mounting base for marine whip antennas comprising, in combination, a pedestal member adapted to be fixed to a supporting structure, an intermediate joint link member, means adjustably interconnecting one end of said intermediate joint link member with said pedestal member for swinging motion with respect thereto a first plane, an upper joint member, means adjustably interconnecting one end of said upper joint member with the other end of said intermediate joint member for swinging motion with respect thereto in a second plane perpendicular to said first piane, and an electrically-nonconductive support post connected to the other end of said upper join-t member, said support post having a socket for receiving seated therein the cylindrical base of a whip antenna and including means for making the electrical connection to the base of a whip antenna secured in said socket, said pedestal member and said one end of said intermediate join-t member being provided with a first pair of knuckle portions having fiazce portions in raceto-face relative disposition, said other end of said intermediate joint member and said upper joint member being provided with a second pair of lcnuckle portion having face portions in fiace-to-face relative disposition, said interconnecting means comprising a bolt extending through central bores in each of said pairs of knuckle portions,

of said clutch members in keyed relation preventing mutual notation.

3. A mounting base for marine Whip antennas comprising, in combination, a pedestal member adapted to be fixed to a supporting structure, an intermediate joint link member, means adjustably interconnecting one end of said intermediate joint link member with said pedestal member for swinging motion with respect thereto in a first plane, an upper joint member, means adjustably interconnecting one end of said upper joint member with the other end of said intermediate joint member for swinging motion with respect thereto in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane, and an electrically-nonconductive support post connected to the other end of said upper joint member, said support post having a socket for receiving seated therein the cylindrical base of a Whip antenna and including means for making the electrical connection to the base of a whip antenna secured in said socket, said pedestal member and said one end of said intermediate joint member being provided with a first pair of knuckle portions having face portions in facetc-face relative disposition, said other end of said intermediate joint member and said upper joint member being provided with a second pair of knuckle portion having face portions in fa-ce-to-face relative disposition, said interconnecting means comprising a bolt extending through central bores in each of said pairs of knuckle portions, clutch members secured with respect to each of said face portions and having intereng-aging teeth, 'and means for tightening each of said belts with respect to its pertaining knuckle portions for bringing the teeth of facing ones of said clutch members into interengagemen-t, said bolt tightening means for one of said bolts comprising a lock lever journalled by said 'one of said bolts against the outside of its adjacent knuckle portion and including cam means for moving the knuckle member axially along said one bolt when said lock lever is rotated with respect thereto.

4. A mounting base for marine whip antennas comprising, in combination, a pedestal member adapted to be fixed to a supporting structure, an intermediate joint link member, means adjustably interconnecting one end of said intermediate joint link member with said pedestal member for swinging motion with respect thereto in a first plane, an upper joint member, means aidjustably interconnecting one end of said upper joint member with the other end of said intermediate joint member for swinging motion with respect thereto in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane, said pedestal member and said one end of said intermediate joint member being provided with a first pair of knuckle portions having face portions in 'face-to-fiace relative disposition, said other end of said intermediate joint member and said upper joint member being provided with a second pair of knuckle portions having face portions in face-to-face relative disposition, said interconnecting means comprising a bolt extending through central bores in each of said pairs of knuckle portions, and clutch members secured with respect to each of said face portions and comprising interengaging teeth, and means for tightening each of said bolts with respect to its pertaining knuckle portions for bringing the teeth of facing ones of said clutch members into interengagement, the bolt tightening means for one of said bolts comprising a lock lever journalled by said one of said bolts against the outside of its adjacent knuckle portion and including cam means tor moving the knuckle member axially along said one bolt when said 'lock lever is rotated with respect thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,319,760 5/ 1943 Becwar 343-860 3,008,259 11/1961 Zornes 4343.12

FOREIGN PATENTS 457,784 7/ 1949 Canada.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

J. PETO, Examiner. 

1. A MOUNTING BASE FOR MARINE WHIP ANTENNAS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PEDESTAL MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE FIXED TO A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, AN INTERMEDIATE JOINT LINK MEMBER, MEANS ADJUSTABLY INTERCONNECTING ONE END OF SAID INTERMEDIATE JOINT LINK MEMBER WITH SAID PEDESTAL MEMBER FOR SWINGING MOTION WITH RESPECT THERETO IN A FIRST PLANE, AN UPPER JOINT MEMBER, MEANS ADJUSTABLY INTERCONNECTING ONE END OF SAID UPPER JOINT MEMBER WITH THE OTHER END OF SAID INTERMEDIATE JOINT MEMBER FOR SWINGING MOTION WITH RESPECT THERETO IN A SECOND PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FIRST PLANE, AND AN ELECTRICALLY-NON-CONDUCTIVE SUPPORT POST CONNECTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID UPPER JOINT MEMBER, SAID SUPPORT POST HAVING A SOCKET FOR RECEIVING SEATED THEREIN THE CYLINDRICAL BASE OF A WHIP ANTENNA AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR MAKING THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE BASE OF A WHIP ANTENNA SECURED IN SAID SOCKET, SAID 